The Illinois State baseball team opens the 2018 season Friday in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in the first of a three-game series with the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Tomlinson Stadium.
The Redbirds were picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. Illinois State welcomes back all nine position starters and most of its pitchers from last year's team. ISU finished the season strong, advancing all the way to the championship game of the MVC Tournament. ISU was the only league team to defeat league regular-season champion Missouri State, as the Redbirds accomplished the feat three times.
Redbird junior shortstop Owen Miller was also voted as one of 15 players representing six teams to the 2018 preseason All-MVC baseball squad. Miller hit .325 with 36 runs scored, 19 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 48 RBI a year ago for the Redbirds, earning second-team All-MVC honors.
First pitch for Friday's game is set for 6 p.m., with a Saturday matchup scheduled for 2 p.m. The series finale on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.
